Dog Bite: Woman Attacked by Pit Bull

Dog Bite: Woman Attacked by Pit Bull

The St. Petersburg Times reported that a grandmother sustained dog bite injuries from a pit bull this past Wednesday. After running errands, Arkies V. Thomas stopped by her niece’s residence. When she arrived at the house, a one year old pit bull owned by another resident was chained to a post in the back yard. While Thomas was making her way towards the house with her niece, the pit bull broke free and ran straight for Thomas. She sustained dog bites in the face, ankle and right arm and had to undergo surgery for her injuries at Bayfront Medical Center. It took two people to pull the pit bull off of Thomas. Ironically, this dog bite took place at the same location where a St. Petersburg narcotics officer shot and killed a charging pit bull five months ago.

State laws vary regarding dog bite injuries. Under Chapter 767 of the Florida Statutes, a dog owner is strictly liable for damages or injuries caused by his or her dog. This means they are liable for any damages caused by the dog, regardless of whether or not the owner knew that the dog was dangerous, and regardless of the type of breed. If the dog owner can show that the person who sustained a dog bite was also negligent and that negligence caused the injury, the liability of the dog owner can be reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to the person sustaining the dog bite. To reduce the risk of liability, a dog owner can post a sign that says “Bad Dog” in a prominent place on his or her property. If a clearly written “Bad Dog” sign is posted on the property and the dog bite occurs on the owner’s property, the owner will only be liable if a person under the age of six is injured or the owner negligently causes the attack. Additionally, a dog owner will not be liable if the person who sustained a dog bite mischievously or carelessly aggravates or provokes the dog afflicting the injury.

Many times people do not pursue compensation for their dog bite injuries and associated medical bills because they are unaware of how to pursue the matter. What many people do not realize is that someone injured by a dog bite may have a claim against the dog owner’s homeowners insurance policy. To ensure that you are aware of the types of compensation available to you, seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney. The attorneys at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes have been helping Tampa Bay area residents with personal injury matters since 1955. Contact us today for a free consultation. We see you through.